About 90 % of all fish diseases can be put down to a weakening of the fish’s immune system. This means the application of remedies can fight the pathogen but doesn’t generally eliminate the cause. It is therefore very important to determine the cause.
As soon as the first signs of disease become noticeable IMMEDIATE action is required. In most cases people wait too long. Example: as soon as the smallest “spot” becomes visible, treatment needs to start. Waiting too long leads to that one little spot (white spot disease) coming off the fish’s skin, falling to the bottom and, after a capsule formation, releasing 1000 new spot pathogens, which increase the likelihood of infection spreading to all the other aquarium inhabitants.

This is a parasite from the group of the Ciliates, which can be killed off quickly and safely with JBL Punktol Plus 125 or JBL Punktol Plus 250 (+ JBL Punktol Plus 1500). No medication can kill the parasite directly off the fish because the parasite is “protected” by the fish’s mucous membrane.

This parasite has a life cycle notable for having several stages during which it cannot be killed. Only during a free floating "swarm out" phase is a successful elimination possible. We therefore recommend you raise the water temperature by 3 °C (do not raise the water temperature over 30 °C). This causes the life cycle to be accelerated, which in turn considerably improves the chances of catching the parasite in a vulnerable swarm out phase!

Prior to use, any activated carbon needs to be removed from the filter, UV-C appliances and CO2 fertilisation should be switched off and, in salt water, skimmers and ozonisers are also to be switched off. 50 % of the water should be changed prior to application. The tank should be aerated with a diaphragm pump with an air stone during the treatment. JBL Punktol Plus should generally be added in the morning and the animals observed.

This is correct, as the increased combination of active ingredients causes the water to change colour noticeably more.

Some discolouration of furnishings made of plastic, and transparent silicon adhesive seams may occur.

Can I use over-the-counter medications for ornamental fish in fish that will be used for human consumption later ?

No. As a rule, over-the-counter medications for ornamental fish may not be used in fish that are bred for human consumption.

Du I have to turn off the aquarium light when using JBL Punktol?

The information given in some online forums that the light needs to be switched off during malachite green treatment is both correct and incorrect at the same time. Malachite green is converted into leucomalachite green, which has a weakened effect on Ichthyophthirius. This conversion is dependent on the pH value and takes place faster when the pH levels are higher than when they are low.

In addition, the filter bacteria have adapted to malachite green in the past decades, with the result that they decompose it faster today than they did in the past. This explains why the instructions for use involve multiple dosages at intervals of one or two days. If the infection is more severe, we recommend you use JBL Punktol (in the various forms) with full doses daily after a 50-60 % water change each time.

The treatment of white spot disease (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) takes anywhere from 10 to 14 days in a warm water tank, depending on the temperature.

The active ingredients do not attack the parasite present on the fish, but instead attack the so-called swarmer stage.

The parasite leaves the fish after a few days and passes into a so-called bottom stage where it multiplies and produces the swarmers that infect the fish again. The active ingredients act against these swarmers.

That is why it is important to carry out the treatment for a sufficiently long time (i.e. continue after all of the white spots on the fish have disappeared.

Do you need a microscope to diagnose white spot disease?

This question isn’t as easy to answer as you’d expect. Of course white spot (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) is visible on the fish with the naked eye. But unfortunately there is a similar looking disease against which the white spot disease remedy is powerless: the velvet disease (Oodinium).

White spot disease – more widespread than supposed

Almost every aquarium owner has experience of the white spot disease (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis or "Ich" for short) on their fish. And this is the interesting point: Many of them successfully used a remedy against white spots, while the remedy did not work for others. There are many facts which help explain this situation.

Using a microscope with JBL

Invest a little time in learning how to use your microscope and you’ll be able to diagnose fish and reptile diseases accurately, identify algae or find out whether your pets have a bacterial or a parasitic disease. ...

JBL’s GMP certification has been extended.

Flip the files - find the disease

The new register card holder for fish diseases shows on eight flip files the most common fish diseases with colour images and appropriate methods of treatment. It also shows how long ranging the remedies are and how to use them. ...

JBL Online Hospital with new information

New developments in the field of fish pathology, new photos of diseased fish and the new JBL remedy range “Plus” have led to an update of the JBL Online Hospital, which helps every aquarist and owner of pond fish to diagnose fish ...

Online Hospital

Do you have ill fish and you don’t know what disease it is and how to treat it? Here you can diagnose diseases using photos or identification keys and you can find out where they come from and how to treat them. By showing you over 500 photos to identify and cure fish diseases, we enable you to find a diagnosis and solution.

Aquarium problems

Are you faced with algae problems or don’t your aquarium plants grow well? Is the water cloudy or are your fish ill? Don’t your water parameters correspond to your expectations? Our team of experts has thoroughly analysed the problems that occur in the aquatic field and offers you solutions which really work.